A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective and reports from national and international media.

baltimoresun.com American singer Beyonce Knowles has postponed a planned concert in Malaysia, the event's organiser says, following accusations by Islamic conservatives that the show would be immoral. Knowles, known for her provocative clothes and choreography, had been scheduled to perform at a Kuala Lumpur stadium on October 25. ''The postponement is solely (the) decision of the artist and has nothing to do with other external reasons,'' the statement said.

kansascity.com Looks like Beyonce suddenly has an open date on her touring schedule. This is the concert that Islamic conservatives have asked to be banned because of the way Beyonce dresses (scantily) and dances (suggestively) on stage and because it would have promoted ''Western sexy performances.'' If she's looking for a place to perform on Sunday, the Sprint Center is available. And heck, we don't care how many clothes she doesn't wear.

Bangkok Post Australia-based swimming pool producer Autumn Solar Pty Ltd (turnover US$55 million last year) will shift its manufacturing base to Phuket to benefit from the Asean Free Trade Area. The relocation involves a joint-venture with local pool producer JD Pools and investment of 50 million baht. The firm also plans to close a plastics factory in China which will shift to the new centre in Phuket.

etravelblackboard.com Phuket's newest and most luxurious resort, Andara Phuket, has appointed Mercury Silver Aviation as its Australian GSA. Andara, which opens December 1, is an ultra-deluxe private villa and residences resort at Millionaires Mile, Kamala Beach, Phuket, Thailand. The villas are set on a hill rising gently from the Andaman Sea offering stunning ocean views. It is just 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from Phuket's best restaurants, boutiques, world-class golf resorts and other attractions.

news.asiaone.com The controversial Ikhwan Polygamy Club intends to open up branches throughout Indonesia. "Polygamy as panacea to win the love of God" was the theme of the inauguration night of the Bandung branch.The club in Malaysia, set up in August, reportedly has 300 members from countries including Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, the Middle East and Thailand.

BK magazine The capital's giveaway takes a lively look at vegetables in its green issue. Nine days without meat may be too much for some during Phuket's Vegetarian Festival but the magazine notes that the American journal Science says that fishing at the current rate will exhaust supplies of seafood within 40 years. So, eat your spinach. Learn to love that pumpkin.

dvb.no(demicratic voice of burma) An Indian paramilitary group has been ordered by Delhi to reinforce its border with Burma amid concerns over continued cross-border drugs and weapons smuggling, local news sources said. This follows concerted efforts by Thailand and China's border security forces to push the trade away from Burma's traditional eastern frontier exit points.

xinhuanet.com Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein will attend the 15th Summit of Asean and related meetings in Hua Hin, an official announcement from Nay Pyi Taw said on Monday without specifying the date of his trip.The summits are scheduled for October 23-25.

guardian.co.uk The skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops and the near-violent spat between Indonesians and Malaysians signal a disturbing trend. Instead of being fixated on a distinct dish, dress or dance, Southeast Asians have to start seeing culture from a socio-historical perspective. Asean could develop an educational program highlighting its sense of shared history that could be adapted by schools in the different member-states.

voanews.com A stand-off between Indonesian authorities and a boatload of Sri Lankan refugees attempting to reach Australia is continuing. Indonesian authorities intercepted the boat more than a week ago, but the refugees refuse to leave the vessel until their demands are met. A convicted people smuggler is one of six Indonesian men detained for assisting the group.

theage.com.au Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam. It sits in the Gulf of Thailand, minding its own business. Phu Quoc now has many hotels, mostly of the beach-bungalow type. ''We are roughly where Phuket was 25 years ago,'' says one of the co-proprietors of the Mango Bay Resort, leaning back in his armchair as the sun plunges into the sea.

news.cnet.com Google claims more than two million businesses and 20 million people have switched to Google Apps, a movement the company is touting through its expanding ''Gone Google'' marketing program. Google said it's expanding the campaign to other countries, including Britain, France, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Singapore.